Phyllis, I know just what you mean about expectations about personal
physical involvement.  I've had a gut reaction in the opposite direction
during the Christmas season.  Nativity scenes always have Jesus in a manger
and Mary (and everyone else) looking on adoringly.  Lots of people are very
touched by the tender emotions depicted.  I find the scenes absurd or even
distressing -- I can't help thinking that if it were my newborn, I'd either
be adoring him on my lap, or eating and taking a shower while some of those
other folks made themselves useful by holding him.

A mother can feel a lot of love for her child, but different women and
different cultures have different expectations about "personal physical
involvement".

Ruth Piatak, LLL Leader
------------------------------
From:    Phyllis Adamson <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: is breastfeeding hard? (expectations vs reality)

I tend to think there is an element of personal physical involvement with
the baby that mom was not counting on. There are moms who expect baby will
feed at the breast for 15 min +/-, then sleep soundly for 2-3 hours. When
her baby wants more than food at the breast, he wants mothering or
nurturing at the breast, and mom complains about never being able to keep
her clothes on, you get closer to understanding her expectations versus her
reality.

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